Ka Pa

Akoki

Kii: Noa Kekuewa Lincoln (2017) Kō: An Ethnobotanical Guide to Hawaiian Sugarcane Varieties.

Entrance to the Pā Lua was strictly restricted to initiated practitioners and officiating masters. Each school possessed its own specific chant (mele) required for entry. At the gateway stood two highly skilled warriors who maintained a vigilant watch over all who approached: the Kanaka Kāli Kukui and the Kiai Puka.

Kanaka Kāli Kukui: This guardian was responsible for the kukui torches. Because training was primarily held at night, he ensured the flames remained constant by discarding burnt kernels and tending to the light.

Kiai Puka: The gate guard maintained the strict regulations of the pā. His task was to test haumāna (students) and ‘ōlohe (masters) on their knowledge, obedience, and adherence to the kapu of Kū‘ialua (the deity of Lua). He ensured the entry passwords and chants were delivered with the exact skill and cadence required.

The head ‘ōlohe stood inside the pā, chanting back to those outside seeking entry. If the master granted permission through his response, the two guards would step aside. However, the scrutiny did not end there. If a student showed a flaw in their movement—or if the guardians sensed a flaw in their intent—the Kia‘i and the Kanaka Kāli Kukui would instantly block the path, sealing the puka (entrance) and denying entry.

Suspended above the entrance hung the kōkō pōhaku—a net holding heavy boulders. This was a lethal deterrent; if an antagonist or an unworthy person attempted to trespass, the net was released. If a net was not present, the Kia‘i would dispatch the intruder instantly with a club or other weapon.

To navigate this danger, traditional olohe lua like Naluahine Ka‘opua and Charles Kenn taught a specific survival strategy. A person seeking entry should not rush. Instead, they would produce a stalk of kō (sugarcane) and thrust it into the doorway first.

This served as a signal to the Kia‘i Puka that the individual was prepared and knowledgeable. Upon seeing the kō, the Kia‘i would secure the kōkō pōhaku so the person could enter safely. Often, even when the entrance was cleared, the net might be released as a final test, requiring the student to lele (jump) through the doorway and quickly stand before the ‘ōlohe said, "e Komo mai" (Enter).

The strict observance of these laws served a singular purpose: to test the discipline, preparedness, and retention of the haumāna. By proving their obedience to the rules of the profession, the student demonstrated they were worthy of the knowledge—ensuring that their days, and the art itself, would be long and many.